Ombre Dress

Can we please just take a moment for this perfect dress? I saw this dress in pink on Kate and fell in love. I knew right away I needed to have it, but when I saw they had it in blue I pretty much freaked out. I loved the style of the dress, but pink isn't really my style. Practically everything I own in my closet is blue and I knew this would make the perfect addition to my wardrobe. 

{Outfit} My Favorite Top Ever

You've probably seen a few of these photos in my SF recap post that you can read here, but I wanted to formally share with you the details of this outfit. When I was in SF I needed outfits that were cute for photos, but also were comfortable for walking around all day and exploring. On this particular day we ended up hiking around 4 miles, half of which was uphill. I knew for this day I wanted to wear something comfortable and breathable, but not necessarily athleisure. My top is from a local California boutique, but I found a few options that are very similar.

{Outfit} Transition To Fall

September starts tomorrow, OMG what? I don't think I realized that September was this week until like 2 days ago. I'm normally used to starting school much earlier than I did, so September definitely crept up on me.

Oh, hi. Yeah, I'm back. And I'm determined to stay. Let me start off with (another) little update. I'm writing to you from sunny California and I'm totally loving it. LMU is such a beautiful school and I have already met so many incredible people. Classes are decent, I wouldn't say amazing just because it is school and I'm not super into learning. But, I am taking a pretty cool yoga class that is currently very difficult, but will hopefully get easier as I get stronger. This is my first week of school so I'm still working on transitioning. 

It's so bizarre because I've dreamt of the day that I head off to college and become an "adult" and now that it's hit me it doesn't seem real. I feel like I'm at some extended summer camp. But, it's so fun so far. My roomie is so fab and we have so much in common and our room is super cute; dorm tour to come once we finally finish decorating! My campus is seriously the most beautiful place in the world and I'm reminded of it all throughout the day! I'm still adjusting to the time change a bit (I'm 2 hours behind here), but it's nothing major.

Okay, so this outfit seems perfect for what I feel like a California autumn entails. It's funny because in Chicago when it's summer everyone is constantly wearing shorts and tanks because it gets so hot, but here where it's warm year round you see people wearing pants, shorts, dresses, sweaters, literally whatever they want! Chicago definitely has certain attire that is acceptable for each season, but here it's very laid-back--I mean I guess that's how California people are though.

This dress is a constant go-to for me because it's a beautiful olive hue that totally encompasses fall. I love the cut of it too and the scalloped edge. These shoes are a new favorite of mine too. Although not practical at all for walking around a college campus (RIP to my feet), they're just too cute not to pair with this dress. I wore this outfit to a recent barbecue at my house just before I left for school and it was perfect for a warm summer evening, but I imagine it will be awesome for a cool(ish) fall day too!

J.Crew dress // Steve Madden bootie heels // Kendra Scott necklace

Xoxo

{Outfit} Maroon Dress

I am a huge fan of summer dresses. If I can throw on a dress rather than matching a shirt and some shirts, I'm all about it. I love wearing dresses because it gives the illusion that you tried, when you really didn't. I purchased a few staple dresses for the summer that have been perfect for just wearing around the town and also for the plethora of graduation parties I attended. Also, I am just not into wearing bras in the summer. Honestly, I hate them and I'm definitely more of a bralette kinda gal. I opted for a maroon bralette with this dress because it adds a little bit of a lace accent to the straps without being too noticeable. You probably already saw this dress in my post about jimmyCASE, but I wanted to finally share the details with you all!

Target dress (similar) // bralette // sandals

Xoxo

{Outfit} Out in Park City

After reading my Utah recap you might know that we spent one night out in Park City and had dinner at an Italian restaurant. I opted for a super cute & summery dress that was light enough for a hot evening. Oh, and I actually fell in love with the waterboy at the restaurant and my friends ended up running back and giving him my number #noshame. This dress is seriously so cute though and I love the fit of it! I wore it for my graduation party as well and it was perfect for that occasion too. I love summer whites and blues so it's the perfect combination. And any summer outfit is complete with cognac sandals! I can't seem to find the dress online, but it's actually from Hollister! Shop similar dresses below!

Hollister dress (similar) // Steve Madden sandals // Tory Burch wallet

Xoxo

{Outfit} My Summer Go-To

Everyone has that one outfit that they constantly wear throughout the summer. For me it's typically running shorts and an oversized tee, but when it comes to looking cute I like to go for summer staples: jean shorts and a flowy top. For me these are my absolute favorite Levi's that I made myself #proud and a super loose off the shoulder top. I love the fact that it's white too because it makes me look a little tanner. I wore this outfit on the first night out in Utah and loved it for a casual (and extremely delicious dinner). Also, check out these reflective shades! I bought them for my trip to Ecuador and lost them in my friend's car and just recently got them back. I'm seriously obsessed because they're so cute and don't get stuck in my hair! Oh and btw I seriously don't know how to pose at all in outfit pictures so I'm sorry that these are kind of awkward. 

off the shoulder top // Levi shorts (similar) // reflective sunnies

Xoxo

{Outfit} Freezing Temps

TOGGLE COAT // SKI SWEATER (SIMILAR) // BLACK DENIM // LONGCHAMP // BOOTS

It has been incredibly cold here in Chicago and I have been forced to break out the winter jackets. I have been agitated a lot recently because I realized that summer is just my season. Winter is not my time of year whatsoever because I despise coats, pants, boots and layers. I'm super into throwing on a swimsuit and a dress and flip flops and heading out the door. But, because I currently live in Chicago (I say currently for a reason) I have to layer up if I want to survive the freezing temperatures outside.

Did you notice I cut my hair? I only cut off two inches, but it truly has made the world of a difference. My hair feels so healthy and great now! It's become a little difficult to style, but it was a necessary chop. 

Oh, and please pray because I'm going back to school today and I'm not sure how I'll survive. I managed to make it through four hours of practice yesterday for dance, but I'm not sure if I can survive eight hours of school after having two weeks off. Wish me luck!

What's your go-to outfit for cold weather?

Xoxo

#12DaysOfKate {My Favorite Vest}

Vests are my absolute favorite. I find myself constantly grabbing a vest rather than a coat almost always. They make for the perfect outerwear piece and I have quite a few in my collection. Although my two J.Crew excursion vests will forever be loved, this Patagonia vest is my new favorite. The "Los Gatos Vest" is the newest addition to my vest collection and definitely a newly coveted piece. I had wanted this vest for over a year before I decided to splurge a bit and purchase it. It's not too expensive (for around $100), but I wasn't sure how much wear I'd really get out of it. To my surprise I find that it matches everything, fits so well and is overall super versatile. The fit is more snug than my quilted vests, but I like it that way for this style! 

Unfortunately, this vest is sold out in so many places (tears, I know), but it will most definitely be restocked in the spring. It's so worth the wait though! Last year I wanted this for Christmas, but it was sold out literally everywhere and took a while to restock before I ended up ordering it in the fall. I highly recommend this vest if you're looking for a new signature piece that is super cute and comfortable!

One of my favorite ways to wear this vest is with a total black outfit. This features all the attention on this stunning vest. Plus, it's an easy way to be super cute and also comfy (leggings and an oversized sweaterr = best outfit ever!).

Sorry about the lack of photos in this post! A lot of them my hair looked absolutely horrible in and a bunch of them were blurry too!

Shop my outfit below:

Xoxo

#12DaysOfKate {Hint of Gold}

Yay it's day 2 of #12DaysofKate! Today I'm sharing a recent find from J.Crew Factory. I managed to snag this sweater at 65% off and I'm totally obsessed with it. I absolutely love the touch of gold on the side seams! It's subtle, yet so adorable! I originally wanted this sweater in gold, but they did not have my size in store and I also realized I have way too many gray sweaters anyways. I paired it with my go-to pair of jeans and favorite ankle booties. December has not hit Chicago quite yet; I've worn shorts the past few days!! It cooled down a bit more, but we're expecting cooler weather in the near future...do a predict a white Christmas? 

Shop my look below:

Xoxo

#12DaysOfKate {Christmas Pajamas}

My Christmas countdown begins with day 1 of #12DaysofKate! I'm so excited to share with you my favorite winter pajamas along with a personal favorite holiday recipe. I've shared these reindeer cookies before, but they're seriously the cutest and I wanted to share them again. I make these cookies practically every year because they are super festive and also delicious! Definitely try out this recipe if you're looking for something new to bake this holiday. Also, I'm never one wear the traditional pajama sets. I personally love them, just never tend to buy them in time for the holiday season. I do love these festive pajama pants though. They're super cute and I paired them with a thrifted waffle shirt for the ultimate comfy and cozy outfit. 

Here's what you'll need for the cookies:

+sugar cookie dough (I just bought the pre-made kind)

+red and green m&m's

+pretzels

1. Create your cookie base with sugar cookie dough in the shape of a circle. 

2. Add "antlers" using the pretzels and eyes/nose using the m&m's.

3. Bake according to your cookie recipe and you're finished!

Stay tuned for the rest of the series #12DaysofKate leading up until Christmas!

Xoxo

{Outfit} Christmas Tree Shopping

One of my absolute favorite Christmas traditions is that each year my family heads north to chop down our Christmas tree. I absolutely love the fact that we get to pick out the tree and make a fun day out of it spending time looking amongst the tree or at the lodge that is filled with golden retrievers. I also love having a real tree because it smells so good and it's so much more authentic. This year I knew it would be pretty chilly when we went so I opted for a super thick sweater and a vest. I also wore Hunters because there has been a history of mud at this tree farm. 

Shop my outfit below:

What's your go-to winter outfit?

Xoxo

{Outfit} Autumn Vibes

It's finally feeling like fall! The weather went from zero to one hundred, being in the mid seventies one day to low sixties the next! I can't complain though because I'm pretty ready for those cool autumn nights and sunny fall days. October is definitely one of the best months of the year and I'm eager to wear sweaters and boots on repeat. 

This outfit is definitely one of my go-to looks for fall. A button down shirt paired with jeans and a vest is such a simple look, but just so fall. I love adding a fun scarf (I'm obsessed with this burgundy one) and riding boots to complete the look. And I'm loving the way I tied my scarf--totally different from how I usually do it! 

Oh and I decided to try a salted caramel mocha from Starbuck's when shooting this outfit and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's been my goal this year to try new drinks from Starbuck's because I was only sticking to the very basics (i.e. vanilla bean frappucchino, passion tea lemonade) and I needed to start branching out. Let me know what drink I should try from Starbuck's because I need recommendations!

What's your go-to fall outfit? I'm eager to hear!

Xoxo